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Katherine Brunt, who looks to have picked up a couple of paces since returning from injury, bowled consecutive wicket maidens to get rid of Elyse Velani and Jess Jonassen.

Velani, having eased her way to 18 chipped the ball off her legs straight to Edwards at square-leg.

Promoted to the top of the order, following Nicole Bolton’s exclusion for this match due to concussion. Jonassen faced just six of the first 30 balls before she bottom-edged the ball into her stumps in Brunt’s next over.

The Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning lasted just 18 balls, falling lbw, as fast bowler Kate Cross struck in her first over as Australia were reduced to 35-3.

With the visitors teetering, Ellyse Perry remained unfazed by her teammates inability to deal with England’s seam attack and played a sublime on-drive off Anya Shrubsole to pick up her first boundary of the innings.

England's Amy Jones hits out during the first ODI against Australia at Taunton on Tuesday

Sarah Taylor of England looks on as Alex Blackwell scores a run for Australia

Perry, who passed 1,000 ODI runs on 27, finally holed out on 78 having played superbly as Sciver took an excellent catch above her head off Knight.

Six balls later and Erin Osborne became the latest Australian batsman to be run-out as Edwards struck with just a solitary stump to aim at from backward square leg.

And, Brunt rounded off an impressive afternoon in the field for England after Sarah Coyte guided the ball to her at long leg and was sent back to the pavilion after recklessly going for a second run.

Despite the away side losing five wickets for just 66 runs in the final 10 overs, wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy - niece of former Australian wicketkeeper Ian – chipped in with an important 29 off 25 balls to take her side to 238-9 from their 50 overs.

With one-day cricket continually evolving a par score at Taunton was difficult to judge but at the half-way stage, Australia looked to be around 20 runs short.

England’s response began perfectly as Edwards sent the first all of the innings for four off Perry.

At the other end Jonassen became the first Australia Women’s player to open with the bat and ball since Shelley Nitshke in March 2008 – a gap of 70 ODIs – and opened with a maiden.

But a rare reach outside off-stump saw England's captain bottom-edge the ball into stumps as she departed having scored just 15.

Knight (12) and Jones (15) fell cheaply, while Sarah Taylor made an entertaining 30 before Osborne had her caught behind leaving the hosts 80-4.

Australia looked in complete control despite fast bowler Holly Ferling’s waywardness, before the match-defining partnership between Sciver and Greenway.

Despite the ebb and flow of the match that saw both side’s look on top at various times, England deservedly walked away with the two points and the win.